NSIRC PhD Student Presents at Two International Conferences, Poland

A third-year PhD student at the National Structural Integrity Research Centre (NSIRC) has returned from a successful trip to Poland, where he presented papers at two international conferences.

Tahsin Ali Kassam presented his first paper, ‘The microstructure and mechanical properties of alumina-to-alumina brazed joints’, at the Materials Weekend conference organised by the Federation of European Materials Societies and the European Materials Research Society. The conference took place at the Warsaw University of Technology between 19–20 September.

The event provided Tahsin with the opportunity to network with 180 engineers and scientists. He also participated with 54 other researchers in an intensive exchange of projects and experiences. He said: ‘Initially I decided to attend the Materials Weekend conference in order to have the opportunity to warm up prior to EUROMAT. However, I found significant value in attending a conference held specifically for PhD students from various European universities and institutions, especially when engaging in discussions. The experience broadened my knowledge of specific topics in current materials research and helped to expand my network.’

Following the Materials Weekend conference, Tahsin remained in Warsaw to participate in the EUROMAT conference, which took place at the same venue on 20–24 September. Here he presented his paper, ‘Effects of Ag-Cu-Ti braze preform thickness and alumina surface condition on the microstructure and mechanical properties of alumina-to-alumina brazed joints’.

The EUROMAT conference is a biennial conference attended by 2000 researches, scientists, trainees and students from both academia and industry. Tahsin had the opportunity to meet eminent scholars Professor Rajiv Asthana, from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, and Professor Antoni P. Tomsia, from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Tahsin presentation’s was well received and he was invited to submit his paper for publication in the Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance.

Tahsin’s attendance at the two conferences was made possible thanks to a travel grant he was awarded earlier this year. His trip is a fine example of how NSIRC PhD students can benefit from opportunities to present and collaborate with peers in their area of research at international conferences.

NSIRC is a centre of excellence for structural integrity and currently has more than 50 PhD students pursuing their research in an industrial environment. Based just outside Cambridge, NSIRC is represented by both international and regional students working with academic partners such as Cambridge University, Brunel University, University of Manchester, University of Strathclyde, University of Edinburgh and many more.

For more information on NSIRC and its research opportunities, please contact us at enquires@nsirc.co.uk